Motor-vehicle.



PATENTED JAN. 10, 19 05.

0. E. POSTER," MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses 6 than; a

PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

No. 779,418. I

C. E. FOSTER.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIGATION'FILED JULY 5,1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 779,418. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

G. E. FOSTER.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1902.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

No. 779,418. PATENTED JAN.- 10, 1905. O.B.FOSTER.

////llll 7IIMMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJMII III/III STATES Patented January 10,1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

lVlOTOR-VEHlCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,418, dated January 10,

' Application filed July 5,1902, Serial No. 114,492.

Be it known that I, Onantus E. Fcern-n, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of (Jolumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

M y invention relates to the powerenerating appliances of motor-vehicles and to means whereby to facilitate the operation and regulation thereof, as fully set forth hereinafter and'as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- 1 Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of suflicient of a motor-vehicle to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4; is a vertical section on the line a 4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5,'an enlarged sectional view of one of the nozzles and valves; Fig. 6, an enlarged vertical ele 'ation of the boiler and in section through the casing. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of a motor-vehicle, showing m v improvemcnts in connection with a different arrai'igement and details of different construction'; Fig. 8, a plan in section of Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a part ransverse section on the line b, Fig. T; Fig. 10, a perspective view showing the arrangement of fines in Figs. 7, 8, and 9.

The frame A is constructed to rest on springs (not shown) supported on the usual running-geardriven in any suitable manner from the driving wheel or pinion l of the motor-ei'igine ll. lheferahly the motor ll, generator (l, its heater or burner, and auxiliary parts are all mounted on the frame A indepemlcntly of the body (J, which can be detached to permit access to the parts.

.It is common to place the generator and burner below or back of the opcratofis seat, and there are various causes which interfere with the action of the auxiliary devices 7 (mixing devices, pilot, &c.) it is necessary for the operator to l a've his seat and inspect or adjust said devices at frequentintervals. To avoid this, 1 place said devices forward of the operator, the generator (1- being supported in a forward position on the frame, the burner it below the same, the mixing-tube o and nozzle 4 (or other vapor-supplying means) adjacent to the burner and visible to the operator, and Where a. torch or pilot light is used, the bunsen M or its equivalent is also arranged so that its operation may be visible to the operator. Inasmuch as it is possible for the flame in some cases to be driven downward or to escape below the generator, there would be great danger of accidents if means were not adopted to prevent them, and 1 therefore isolate the burner and its adjuncts from the seat by extending the platform 2 to the generator, as shown in Figs. 7 to 10, or to the rear side 15 of the body-box l), which in the construction of the other figures incases the generator. 1 thus wholly isolate the burner from the seat, but allow of requisite inspection of the parts by providing a door 14 either in the platform, as in Figs. 7 to 10, or in the side 15 of the box I), in the other figures, which door may be readily opened by the operator whenever it is required'to inspect the parts adjacent to the burner.

The nozzle 4 is supplied from the vaporizer through a pipe, the flow through which is controlled by a. regulator N or N, as usual.

In order to properly control the action of the mixer, pilot-light, &c., I provide means whereby the adjusting devices (valves, &c.) may be sh ited by the operator without leaving the seat. Thus the valve 12, controlling the flow of vaporized fuel to the mixing-tube, is moved by means of a hand-wheel 9, which may be on the. vertical stem of the valve itself, as in Figs. 7 and 8, or with a sprocket-wheel To, a chain Tl from which passes to a sprocketwheel on the valve-stem. \Vhere there is a pilot-light, the valve-stem 18, Figs. 2 and .6, may be controlled from a hand-wheel 21 by means of sprockets and a chain, as shown, or otherwise, or it may be accessible on lifting the door 1st, Figs. 7 and 8.

To prevent clogging of the nozzles, the valves thereof, as the valve 7 of the mixer, may be provided with a needle 8, which extends forward through the nozzle when the v: lve is closed, so that if any particle has lodged in the nozzle'it will be crushed or expelted.

The vaporizer may be a cylinder F, as in the construction of Figs. 2 and 4, or a coil :F, as in the construction of Fig. 8, and the pilot or torch may serve to start the action of the vaporizer by injecting its flame thereon.

It will be noted that the bunsen or heater for the vaporizer F or F is supplied with oil directly from the supply-pipe which supplies the vaporizer independently, and in this connection I use a bunsen M, which is suitably heated before starting, so as to vaporize the I fuel. This arrangement insures the operation of the bunsen before the oil is turned into the vaporizer, so that after the latter is fully dependent upon that of the vaporizer.

heated by the bunsen the oil may be turned into the vaporizer and a supply of gas for the main burner secured without flooding, while theaction of the bunsen or heater M is IN;

. valve having a stem 61 suitably arranged controls the flow to the vaporizer.

To prevent the gases flowing upward from the burner to the'top of the generator, either when running or when at rest, with the wind passing to the rear, I provide means whereby any rear drafts result in aiding the downward I flow of the gases to a. point below the plat so as to receive air-currents passing to the rear to conduct them past the opening 30 and into the tube H, thereby causing a downdraft in the latter even when the vehicle is at rest. When the vehicleis in motion, there is a strong draft through the port w and into the flue H and insures a downdraft when the engine is not operating. \Vhen the engine is in action, the exhaust passes to a nozzle 50, arranged to project a current downward through the flue H, as heretofore.

The port a; may be in the side of a fine H, extending vertically above the hood, as in Figs. 7 to 10, or at the end of a flue extending forward horizontally, as in the construction of the other figures, and the latter being preferable and the horizontal part of the flue being tangential to the hood and communicating with a port 30, arranged nearer the rear part of the hood, as best shown in Figs.

' .2, 3, and 4C, thus insuring that the air passing in from the front will go directly to the flue ll without any endency to enter the hood.

Great difficu ties have been encountered in efforts to prevent gases from burning back in the burners that is, the flame passes inward througltz the burner-openings and the gases ignite i; side the burner and quickly destroy the latter. I prevent this by maintaining a greater pressure at all times (duringoperations) within the burner than above the same. This may be done by injecting air or steam into the burner. Preferably a steam Wane pipe 36 conducts steam to a nozzle 35', arranged to inject the steaminto the mixing-tube, and thus facilitate by its heat the vaporizing of the oil when not sufiieiently heated. The oxygen of the steamer air also aids combustion, especially when kerosene or other fuel rich in carbon is used. A hand-wheel 39 accessible to the operator serves to adjust the steam-valve 37, and as steam at but two or three pounds pressure is sufficient to main tain the requisite pressure in the burner a reducing-valve 38 is arranged in the steam-pipe and properly adjusted. v

The generator is preferably suspended be tween uprights 4:0 by yokes 41, extending under the upper flange of the generator, the ends of the yokes being detachably clamped to the uprights by bolts 60. To avoid the necessity of removing the burner-easing 42 when the burner is to be inspected or to clean the boiler-tubes, I support the burner so as to be detachable from the casing, which is fixed to the boiler. Thus'I extend screw-bolts through the casing below the burner, which can be removed after withdrawing the mixing-tube and screwing out said bolts. To further facilitate cleaning the boiler-tubes and afford access to parts within the hood without removing the latter, I provide it with a detachable cap 414:. When a body with abox D is used, the top 61 is hinged at 62 to permit thecap 44 to be removed.

Without limiting myself to the precise con-' struction and arrangement of parts shown and described, I claim- 1. The combination with the body, seat and platform of a motor-vehicle, of a casing forward of the platform, a boiler arranged within the casing, a burner below the boiler, and devices for controlling the supply of burning mixture accessible from above the platform, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the body, seat and platform of a motor-vehicle, of a boiler and vapor-burner arranged forward of the seat, the burner below the platform, with a guard extendingbetween the platform and the burner to prevent the'passage of flame from the burner above the platform, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the body, seat and platform of a motor-vehicle, of a boiler forward of the seat above the platform, burner extending below the platform, a guard be- TOO tween the burner and the platform, and de- Vices for supplying the burner with air and vapor and for regulating the supply from above the platform, substantially as set forth.

4:. The combination with the body, seatand platform of a motor-vehicle, of a'boiler for-. ward of the seat, a vapor-burner below the boiler and having itsair-inlet below the plat form, mixing devices below the platform, and means for regulating the same from above the platform, substantially asset forth.

The combination with the body, seat and as set forth.

6. The combination with the body and seat of a vehicle having a platform in front-of the seat, of a boiler and burner arranged forward of the seat, a hood above the boiler, and a flue open at the front and extending from the hood downward to a point below the platform, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the body and seat of a vehicle having a platform in front of the seat, of a boiler and burner arranged forward of the seat, a hood above the boiler, a fine extending at an angle from the hood downward to a point below the platform and open at the front, substantially as set forth.

8. The'combination with the body and seat of a vehicle having a platform in front of the seat, of a boiler and burner irranged forward of the seat, a hood above the boiler, a fine eX-\ tending from the hood downward to a point below the platform, an opening at the front of the flue, and an exhaust-pipe leading to a nozzle arranged to project the exhaust-steam downward in said flue, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the boiler and burner of a motor-vehicle, of a flue open at the front tangential at the upper part to the hood, and communicating therewith and continued. downward below the boiler, substantially as set forth. 1

10.- The body of a motor-vehicle provided at the forward end with a casing and a generator arranged within the casing and burner below the generator, and a seat behind the generator and burner, the platform and the rear side of the casing forming a partition between the generator, burner and the seat, substantially as'set forth.

11. The body of a motor-vehicle provided with a platform and at the forward end with a casing and a generator arranged withinthe casing and burner below the generator, the casing and platform arranged to form a partition between the seat and the generator and burner, and means accessible from the seat for regulating the How of fuel to the burner, substantiallyas set forth.

12. The combination with the body, seat, and engine of amotor-vehicle, of a steam-generator and burner therefor arranged forward of the seat, a casing isolating the generator and burner from theseat, means for regulating the action of the burner, and devices accessible from the seat for actuating said means, substantially as set forth.

13. Theeombination with the body, seat, and engine of a motor-vehicle, of a steam-generator and burner therefor arranged forward of the seat, a casing isolating the generator and burner from the seat, and a ilue open at the front of the casing for receiving a horizontal current of air and conducting the prodnets of combustion'from above the generator to a point below the platform, substantially.

as set forth.

14. The combination with the body, seat, and engine of a' motor-vehicle, of a steam-generator and burner therefor arranged forward of the seat, a casing isolating the generator and burner from the seat, an opening in the casing, and a fine open at the front eommuni eating with said opening and with the space above the boiler and extending downward below the platform, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with the body, seat, and engineof a motor-vehicle, of a steam-generator and burner and mixing devices therefor arranged forward of the seat, a easingisolating the generator and burner and appliances from the. seat, and an opening in the casing providedwith a door, substantially as set forth.

16, The combination with the body of a motor-vehicle, of a generator supported at the front of the body, a hood above the generator, and a line tangential to the hood and communicating laterally therewith and open at the forward end and extending downward'below the body, substantially as set forth.

1?. The combination with the body of a motor-vehicle, of a boiler arranged on the platform forward of the seat, a burner isolated from the seat, a mixing-tube and Bunsen burner, regulating means therefor arranged below the platform, and means'for conducting the products of combustion from above the boiler to a point below the platform, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination with the body, seat and platform, of a boiler and vapor-burner arranged in front of the vehicle and burner-'- casing below the boiler, and means for connecting the burner so as to be detachable from the casing, substantially as. set forth.

19. The combination with the body, seat and platform of a vehicle, of a boiler at the front of the vehicle and a burner and burnercasing below the burner, means for connecting the burner so as to be detachable from the casing, a hood above the boiler, and a removable cap for the hood, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. FOSTER.

Nitnesses:

F. LERREMAN, H. M. G-ILLMAN, Jiy 

